Batten, Griffin and Prudencio
(Batten & Co.)
later Batten & Prudencio - Prudencio & Co. - Brooke & Prudencio.

Mineral Water and Ginger Beer manufacturers


Charles William Batten

Charles was born in 1845 in Timsbury, Somerset, baptised 2 November, son of James Batten, labourer, and Caroline Ruddick, who had married in St. Mary Redcliffe on 18 August 1842. In the 1851 census, Charles is living with his family in Northfield, Timsbury. By 1861 the family had moved to Keynsham, where James was employed as a shepherd, living at Chew Cottages, next door to the Union Workhouse. The young Charles was an agricultural labourer.

Charles married Maria Brown at Bedminster St. John on 1 March 1865. They had a son Charles William, baptised at the same church on 12 Aug. 1866. He went on to be involved in the Standard Beverage Company.

Charles was declared a bankrupt of Bedwell Place, Baptist Mills, carter and drayman according to the Salisbury and Winchester Journal of Sat. 21 March 1868 and due in court April 8th according to Western Daily Press Mon 23 March 1868. He received his discharge, however, at the end of May that year.
In the 1871 Census Charles was a Commission Agent living at 38 Thrissell Street, St. Philip & Jacob.

The 1881 census has Charles as a Mineral Water Manufacturer living 47 Albert Street, St. Pauls age 35, Maria, wife (36), Charles William, son (14), Frank F., son (12), Alice Maria, daur. (10) Arthur George, son (7) and Herbert Alfred, son (1).

Charles died at 120 Cheltenham Road on 21 July 1885, his son Charles, just 18 and carpenter attempted to continue in a similar line of business but was himself declared bankrupt whilst trading at Brunswick Street, St. Paul’s (Standard Beverage Co.) on 17 October 1888 (Bristol Mercury). Charles, at that time keeper of the Union House beerhouse, All Saints' Street Bristol had left Bristol at the time of his bankruptcy, believing he'd made a settlement in 1888. He had his own joinery business by 1891 (The license of the beerhouse was transferred to Percy Allen in Dec. 1889). The Standard Beverage Company, (late C. W. Batten & Co.) became a limited company and continued until at least 1899.

The Neptune Works, however, continued in the safe hands of Francisco Prudencio.

Charles William Batten senior's funeral took place at Arnos Vale on Sunday 26 July 1885. The friends gathered at the grave numbered over 150. Charles had been a member of the St. Keyna Lodge of Freemasons, the Canynge Druidic Independent Society, the United Ancient Order of Druids and the Licensed Victuallers' Association and other similar bodies. Mr. Prudencio was of course there along with the President of the LVA.

Joseph Griffin

According to the Western Daily Press - Friday 10 July 1874 (p3), Batten and Griffin were trading as ginger beer manufacturers at this date, they had recently had an asphalt floor laid and Joseph Griffin was a witness in a case of poor asphalt being provided by another firm for one of his customers. In 1875 they were advertising for bottle wirers.

Joseph Griffin was a Soda Water Manufacturer living at 42 Albert Street, St. Paul’s in 1881, by then his partnership with Batten & Co. had been dissolved. Joseph was born in Coventry in 1833.

10oz blob top mineral water bottle Batten21.jpgBatten40.jpg Batten50.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & Co. / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL. and BATTEN'S / (Neptune) / GINGER BEER (centre of middle image and right image).


Glassworks: Unmarked.
Right and middle photo courtesy Aled Rees.

10oz Codd's Bottle Batten17.jpgBatten16.jpgBatten18.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & Co. / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL

Rear: CODD'S / PATENT / 4 / LONDON / S.E.

Glassworks on base: B. RYLANDS / BOTTLE WKS /  ARDSLEY / NR BARNSLEY

6oz Codd's Bottle Batten19.jpgBatten20.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & Co. / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL

Rear: CODD'S / PATENT / 4 / LONDON / S.E.

Glassworks on rear: B. RYLANDS / BOTTLE WORKS / NR  BARNSLEY

6 & 10oz Bullet Stoppered Bottles Batten41.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & Co. / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL (Note left hand bottle has Neptune without his large fish).


Glassworks: Sykes McVay / Castleford.
Photo courtesy Aled Rees.

Standard and split size bottom dent Codd's Premier Patent Bottle Batten43.jpgBatten42.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & Co. / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL

.
Glassworks: DAN RYLANDS / BARNSLEY
Photos courtesy Miles Griffin and Aled Rees.

Francisco Pedro Manuel Prudencio

Francisco Joaquim Prudencio, Fransisco's father, was born according to the 1861 census in Rio Maior north of Lisbon but his epitaph in the press says he was from Estremoz which lies to the east of Lisbon in Portugal. He was born around 1794 and married Elizabeth Stewart, of Bath, at St. Bride, Fleet Street, London on 21st May 1820. Elizabeth died in Bath on 19th Aug. 1856.   In 1849 Francisco was a Master Tailor, and by 1851 he was employing 8 men, living at 2 Abbey Place off York street, Bath. Francisco Joaquim & Elizabeth had daughters: Mary Antonia in Cheltenham b. 19th Sep. 1824, bapt. 17th Oct. at the Wesleyan Ebenezer Chapel there; Antonia Stewart, b. 1826 in Cheltenham; Caroline, b. about 1829, Elizabeth, b. 1831, and son Francisco Pedro Manuel Prudencio in 1838 in Bath.

Francisco senior married again to Georgenia Bocardo, age 27, of Bath in early 1858. They lived at 6 Abbey Street, Bath, in 1865. Signor Francisco Joaquim Prudencio died in Bath on 12 December 1869, aged 76.

Antonia Stewart Prudencio married Casmir Moritz Sacks Robinsky, professor of German language of the University of Berlin and late of Prior-park Colleges, Bath in 1847, but she was widowed in 1850 and living back with her parents, Herr Robinsky died 9th Aug. 1850 aged just 40 after a protracted illness. Antonia later went on to marry aerated water manufacturer Joseph Francis Cotterell (b.1818) of Westbury Upon Trym on 3rd July 1858 in Bradford on Avon, Wilts. Cotterell had been a partner of the firm of George Withy & Co. of Orange Grove, Bath and Wilder Street, Bristol since around 1852 until 1870 and was in business on his own, in 1872.

Francisco jnr. married Elizabeth Sheppard of Chippenham in the first quarter of 1860 in Bath. In the 1861 census he was an Engine Driver living at Cornwell House, Walcot, Bath but by 1871 Francisco was listed as Foreman in a Soda Water Works (likely with help from brother-in-law Joseph Cotterell), his epitaph in the newspapers said he once worked for Withy & Co. of Bristol & Bath. Cotterell died on 23 September 1903. Prudencio likely joined Batten & Griffin around 1874. More info on the company may be found here.

10oz Reliance Patent Codd's Bottle Batten22.jpgBatten23.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & PRUDENCIO / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL

Rear: RELIANCE PATENT / SOLE MAKERS / DAN RYLANDS / BARNSLEY

10oz Codd's Bottle Batten24.jpgBatten25.jpg
Embossed: BATTEN & PRUDENCIO / REGISTERED / (Neptune) / TRADE MARK / BRISTOL



Glassworks on rear: CANNINGTON SHAW & Co. / MAKERS / ST. HELENS.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Prudencio1.jpg
Printed: PRUDENCIO & Co. / BRISTOL in outer circle.
MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURERS / (Neptune picture) /TRADE MARK in center.

Photo taken at Avon Collectors Club. (Courtesy Ken Lennard)
Potter: Price Bristol, all white glaze.

On 22 August 1889 Francisco Prudencio and Thomas Brooke, a long established soda water manufacturer of Capt. Carey's Lane off of Old Market, Bristol, merged their two companies together to form Brooke & Prudencio Limited. The new company premises was at 124-132 (even) Newfoundland Road, demolished for the building of the M32. This was formerly the factory of Barrett's Country Bottling Co. Ltd. During WW2 Brooke & Prudentio were a branch of Bristol Industries Ltd. and has subsidiaries such as the Neptune Direct Supplies Company. Mr. William Stevens was managing director at the demise of Mr. Prudencio. At this time it seems "Limited" was removed from new bottles as the company was now a subsidiary of a larger concern. Also see the war-time restrictions below. After the merger between the two companies the "Neptune" trade mark loses his large fish and acquires the Thomas Brooke anchor entwined with a "B".

Mr. Prudencio died suddenly on Christmas Day 1908 at his home at Woodland Road, Tyndall's Park, his funeral was held at St. Mary on the Quay and he was buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery, Arnos Vale.

Brooke and Prudencio Ltd. were a Branch of Bristol Industries Ltd. by 9 Oct. 1920, the original company thus went into voluntary liquidation on 11 Apr. 1921. They continued trading as a subsidiary until it went into receivership in 1960.

A director’s report from 15 Sep. 1947 illustrates the state of affairs, for Brooke & Prudencio and the industry as a whole, shortly after the Second World War:
“The Soft Drinks Industry which includes Brooke & Prudencio branch, also two subsidiary Companies and another trading concern is still under the control of the Soft Drinks Industry (War Time) Association Limited. Some of the restrictions imposed under this scheme have now been relaxed and it is expected that the activities of this Association will cease in the early part of next year, but this unfortunately does not imply that essential raw materials for the maintenance and possible expansion of the Industry will be free of control.
We have now been able to resume in some areas our “Neptune” Direct Supply Service, but only to a limited extent, shortage of receptacles, particularly bottles, still being very acute. Our factory at New Eltham, to which I referred in the last report, has now been repaired and we are ready to resume production at the earliest permitted moment, but here again, under existing circumstances it can only be to a limited extent. We are hoping to have two other London factories, one of which suffered very heavy war damage, ready to resume production for “Neptune” Direct Supply Service at least prior to the termination of the de-concentration scheme operated under the War Time Association.
In these difficult times it is very pleasing to report that our returns for the first quarter of this year are quite satisfactory, and I assure you that the interests of the Company, its thousands of customers and employees, are the constant concern of your directors.”

2 gallon Flagon / tap jar Batten1.jpg
Printed:  264 / (B & P trade mark) / NEWFOUNDLAND RD. / BRISTOL / Telephone No. 446

Large ceramic screw stopper. Tap aperture at rear.

Potter: Price / Bristol

2 gallon Flagon / tap jar Batten46.jpgBatten47.jpg
Printed:  32 / 1 / (B & P trade mark-without "Limited") / NEWFOUNDLAND RD. / BRISTOL
Large ceramic screw stopper. Tap aperture at rear.
32 is possibly 1932 date.
Potter: Price / Bristol

2 gallon Flagon / tap jar Batten2.jpg
Printed:  (In circle) BROOKE & PRUDENCIO - LIMITED / (Neptune trade mark in centre) / BRISTOL

Small screw stopper. Tap aperture at rear.

Potter: Powell / Bristol

Soda Syphon Batten3.jpg
Clear Glass.
Etched in circle: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / LIMITED / BRISTOL.
Pictorial Neptune registered trade mark in centre.
B & P LTD to rear.
Made in France: Gudret.

Soda Syphon Batten15.jpg
Clear Glass, ribbed.
Etched in circle: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / B & P Brooke & Prudencio late logo in centre / BRISTOL
Small pictorial Neptune registered trade mark in centre.

Made in England: British Syphon Co. Ltd.

10oz Codd's Bottle Batten4.jpg
Embossed with B & P Brooke & Prudencio Ltd. logo with central small Neptune trade mark / BRISTOL.
"LIMITED" suggests pre-1920.
Green Glass.

Glassworks: Dobson & Nall Ltd. Bottle & Case Makers, Barnsley.

6oz Skittles Batten31.jpg
Embossed with B & P Brooke & Prudencio Ltd. logo with central small Neptune trade mark / BRISTOL.
"LIMITED" suggests pre-1920.
Green Glass.
Glassworks: on rear of one on left: MADE IN ENGLAND
No makers mark on one on right.

6oz Skittle Batten44.jpg
Embossed with B & P Brooke & Prudencio Ltd. logo with central small Neptune trade mark / BRISTOL.
"LIMITED" suggests pre-1920.

Aqua Glass.
Glassworks: ?

Crown cap mixer bottle.
Batten45.jpg
Embossed with B & P Brooke & Prudencio Ltd. logo with central small Neptune trade mark / BRISTOL.
"LIMITED" suggests pre-1920.

Olive Green Glass.
Glassworks: P & R, B. (Powell & Ricketts, Bristol).

Blob top mixer bottle.
Batten48.jpg
Etched (in circle): BROOKE & PRUDENCIO LTD. / (in centre) BRISTOL.
"LTD" suggests pre-1920.

Dark Green Glass.
Glassworks: unmarked.

Large and Small Dumpy Seltzer Batten30.jpg
Embossed with B & P Brooke & Prudencio Ltd. logo with central small Neptune trade mark / BRISTOL.
"LIMITED" suggests pre-1920.
Brown Glass, Small=Blob top, Large = Crown cap.
Glassworks: E. B. & Co. Ld. 12674 & 12675 (Likely E. Breffit)

6oz Hamilton Bottle Batten26.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK


Glassworks: Not marked.

10oz Hamilton Bottle Batten27.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK


Glassworks: Not marked.

6 & 10 oz Bullet Stoppered Bottles Batten29.jpgBatten28.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK


Glassworks: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol.

6 oz Codd's Bottle Batten38.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK


Glassworks: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol.

6 oz Skittle/Flat-bottomed Hamilton Batten49.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK


Glassworks:Not Marked.           B & P on base.

10oz Codd's Bottles Batten32.jpgBatten33.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK

Glassworks: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol. (left)
                     & Powell, Bristol (right).

10oz Codd's Bottles Batten34.jpgBatten35.jpg
Embossed in circle: REGISTERED / BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / (Neptune image) / LIMITED / TRADE MARK. / BRISTOL (Lengthwise on bottle at rear).
One with intact paper "Ginger Beer" label of the type usually attached to the base of bottles.
Glassworks: E. BREFFIT & Co. / MAKERS / CASTLEFORD.

10oz Codd's Bottles Batten36.jpgBatten37.jpg
Embossed : B & P late logo (small Neptune trade mark ) / BRISTOL.

Glassworks: South Wales Glass Co. Ltd, Newport, Mon. (left); C. S. & Co. (on base-i.e Cannington Shaw of St. Helens, Lancs.), (right).
"LIMITED" in the logo has been obliterated from the mould in the Welsh example and the patch is visible.

10oz Codd's Bottles Batten39.jpg
Embossed : B & P late logo (small Neptune trade mark ) / BRISTOL.

Glassworks: Not marked but "522" on base.

Modern style clear glass or very pale aqua.
Photo courtesy Aled Rees.

6oz Codd's Bottle Batten51.jpg
Etched lengthwise : BROOKE / & / PRUDENCIO / BRISTOL.

Glassworks: ?


Photo courtesy Aled Rees.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten12.jpg
Printed: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / LIMITED / in arch.
Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL

Potter: Powell, Bristol, all white glaze.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten9.jpgBatten10.jpg
Printed: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / LIMITED / in circle.
Neptune trade mark in center.  Around circle is printed: ANYONE ILLEGALLY USING THIS BOTTLE INFRINGES THE TRADE MARK.

Potter: Price-Powell Bristol, (left); Powell Bristol (right), honey glaze.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten5.jpg
Printed: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / LIMITED / in arch.
B & P and Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL

Potter: Price Bristol, dull honey glaze.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten6.jpg
Printed: B & P logo (no Limited)
Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL

Potter: unmarked, 2 tone glaze.
Crown cap.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten7.jpg
Printed: B & P logo (no Limited)
Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL
(Smaller text- no serifs.)
Potter: unmarked, all brown glaze.
Crown cap.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten8.jpg
Printed: B & P logo (no Limited)
Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL
(Smaller text- no serifs.)
Potter: unmarked, 2 tone glaze.
Crown cap.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten13.jpg
Printed: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO / LIMITED / in arch.
B & P logo with small Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL

Potter: Price Bristol, 2 tone glaze.
Crown cap.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten1.jpg
Printed: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO in arch. / BRANCH OF / BRISTOL INDUSTRIES LTD / B & P logo with small Neptune trade mark in center. / BRISTOL

Potter: Price Bristol, 2 tone glaze.
Crown Cap.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Batten11.jpg
Printed: BROOKE & PRUDENCIO  BRISTOL around base.

Surviving paper "Ginger Beer" label.

Potter: unmarked, all white glaze.
Crown cap.

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